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Santoso’s death has demoralized his group: Tito
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On guard – Police officers secure the arrival of an ambulance carrying the bodies of Santoso, the leader of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group, and his follower, Mukhtar, at the Bhayangkara Hospital in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Tuesday. (thejakartapost.com/Ruslan Sangadji)
T
he death of Santoso, the leader of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group, has demoralized his followers as they have lost a leader who had become a prime figure not only in the group but also in radical movements in Indonesia, the National Police chief has said.
“I’m calling on MIT members to immediately surrender and face the legal process,” said National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, after he examined the bodies of Santoso and his follower, Mukhtar, at the Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
Santoso and Mukhtar were killed in a shootout with Operation Tinombala task force personnel in Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Monday.
Tito said the police would help and protect MIT members who agreed to surrender and face the legal process. Similar protection and help would also be provided for the families of the suspected terrorists. “I know they have been indoctrinated not to surrender but I’m calling on them all to immediately surrender,” he said.
Tito said his visit, together with Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, to Palu was to ascertain that one of the bodies was that of suspected terrorist Santoso. He confirmed that the body was indeed that of Santoso, who had long been on the police’s most wanted list.
“Yes, 100 percent he is Santoso alias Abu Wardah. But to make sure, we will still wait for results of DNA tests, which will be released on Friday,” said Tito. (ebf)
